Coiling of springs



$ 1 ,1934. F. H. SLEEISER 1,973,667

COILINGMOF SPRINGS Filed June 9, 1933 MJ/egver 1: U aw iinal bending step Eollowing Patented Sept. 11, 1934 COILING 0F SPRINGS Frank H. Sleeper,

assignor to Sleeper Ayers Cliff, Quebec, Canada, & Hartley, Inc., Worcester,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 9, 1933, Serial No. 675,081

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to the coiling of springs, and has for its object to provide an improved method of coiling springs of the type characterized by coiled bodies with straight extensions projecting oppositely from the bodies parallel to the axes thereof. Springs of this particular type are utilized for a great many different purposes, with great variation between the lengths of the coiled bodies and extensions to adapt the springs for use in diflerent locations in cooperation with fastening devices at the ends of the extensions.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved method of producing springs of the'above indicated character, in-the practice of which springs are produced by a relatively small number of simple operations, the procedure being readily varied to obtainsprings with different lengths and diameters of bodies and with different lengths. of extensions. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation, illustrating the several steps of the method.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. l, with the coiling mandrel broken away above its support.

Fig. 3 illustrates a completed spring, with the indicated diagrammatically.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the method involves first, feeding a predetermined length of flexible metallic stock 1 in any suitable manner, as by means of intermittently driven feed rolls 2, the line of stock feed projecting the stock between the spaced pins 3 of a bending head 4. When a length of stock corresponding to the desired length of an extension on the completed spring has been fed between the pins 3 by the rolls 2, the feed is interrupted and rotation of the head 4 through a quarter turn bends the stock into the dotted line position. The bent portion 1a of the stock extending at right angles to the line of stock feed is then in parallel relation to a slot 5 extending axially of a mandrel 6, the head 4 being spaced from the mandrel 6 a sufficient distance to allow ample clearance for the bending operation.

the bending operation, rotation of the feed rolls 2 is resumed to again feed the stock and move the bent-up portion la into the slot 5 on the mandrel 6, the mandrel 6 then being stationary. In entering the slot 5, the portionla passes through a slot '7 provided in a support 8 having an opening 8a encircling the mandrel 6, the slots 5 and 7 being in alinement at the start of the coiling operation, as shown in Fig. 2. The mandrel 6 is rotatably supported in a frame 9 that is adapted for shifting movement in the direction of the axis of the mandrel so as to move the mandrel longitudinally within the support 8 which is stationary, and with the frame 9 in the position of Fig. 1, a reduced coiling portion 6a of the mandrel 6 extends below the support 8.

Following the positioning of the bent portion la of the stock in the alined slots 5 and 7, the mandrel 6 is rotatably driven in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by any suitable means, such as a reciprocatory rack 10 cooperating with elongated teeth 11 provided on the upper end of the mandrel 6. This rotative movement of the mandrel 6 is accompanied by upward movement of the frame 9, as viewed in Fig.- 1. such movement being imparted to the frame 9 in any suitable manner, as by means of an oscillatory pinion 12 engaging the teeth of a rack 13 carried by the frame 9. As a result of the combined rotative and axial movements of the mandrel 6, the stock is wound around the reduced coiling portion 6a of the mandrel, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. During the coiling operation, the bent portion la of the stock isanchored firmly in the mandrel slot 5, so that the stock is wound tightly around the coiling portion 6a as the mandrel rotates, the feed rolls 2 then turning freely. Obviously, the size and pitch of the coil thus formed will be determined by the diameter of the coiling portion 6a and the relation between the rotative and axial movements of the mandrel.

At the completion of the coiling operation, the convolutions 1b of the coil are disposed within the support opening 8a, as shown in Fig. 1, whereupon both the rotative and axial movements of the mandrel cease. As soon as the mandrel stops turning, a second bending head 14 is moved in a direction at right angles to the axis of the mandrel 6 until its pins 15 embrace the stock in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The stock is then severed by means of cooperating cutter blades 16, the cutter blades being spaced from the axis of the mandrel a distance equal to the length desired for the other spring extension, after which the head 14 is rotated through a quarter turn, thereby bending the stock, as shown in Fig. 3, with a portion 10 extending parallel to the portion 1a. Following the bending of the second spring extension and retraction of the described bending head 14, the previously described movements of from within the support opening 8a to permit the same to slide off the coiling portion 6a. A completed spring formed in accordance with the above method is shown in Fig. 3. After the clearance 9 again occupy the position of Fig. 1,

ceptible of ready adjustment and manipulation to produce a wide range of springs of the above indicatedtype. Thus, by controlling the amount of stock fed by" the rolls and by varying the displacement of the first bender and the cutter from the coiling axis, springs with diiierent lengths of coiled extensions can be produced. Furthermore, by varying the amount of rotative movement of the coiling mandrel with reference to the axial movement thereof, coiled body portions of any desired length, diameter and pitch can be produced. I

I claim:

1. The improvement in the coiling of springs, which consists in feeding a length of flexible metal stock, bending a predetermined length of said stock at right angles to the line of feed, feeding the bent stock, winding the stock into a predetermined number of convolutions while holding the bent portion straight, severing said stock, and finally bending a second predetermined length of said stock into parallel relation with the first-bent portion.

2. The improvement in the coiling of springs, which consists in feeding-flexible metal stock in a. straight line, bending a predetermined length of said stock at right angles to the line of feed, feed- 5. The improvement in the coiling o1 springs, which consistsin feeding a length of flexible metal end portion of predetermined length into parallel relation with the first-bent portion.

FRANK H. SLEEPER. 

